Windows Vista SP1 restores faith
Monday, March 10, 2008 by Draginol | Discussion: Windows Vista
Windows Vista Service Pack 1 is the first major update to Microsoft's controversial follow-up to Windows XP. I say controversial because Windows Vista got off to a bit of a rough start mostly in the area of driver support, the new User Access Control and just a number of polish issues that gave early adopters a bit of a sour taste.
We've been given a copy of the final release of Service Pack 1 and we're pleased to say it's a big step forward for Windows Vista users. Having previously been using the betas and most recently RC1, I had been disappointed with the general slowness and klunkiness of Windows Vista.
For most new users to Windows Vista, the first thing they would tend to notice is how much slower Windows Vista was versus Windows XP. With Service Pack 1, Windows Vista is very snappy. The overall experience is just much better. Here are the big improvements based on our testing:
- Superfetch is super. The most significant improvement we noticed in SP1 over Vista (including the RC's) is that superfetch is much better. Superfetch looks at what programs you tend to use and so when you boot up, it will tend to load pieces of these into memory. Now, users who get really uptight about the amount of memory used by the system on bootup will still have a cow. But the reality is that now when you load up the programs you usually run, it's lightning fast. If you've ever right-clicked on the desktop in Windows XP to create a folder and found it obnoxious how long it takes to bring up a pop up menu, you'll like SP1.
- File Management much snappier. In Windows Vista, moving files around was obnoxious. You'd get a dialog that would start to estimate the amount of time it would take to copy the files. If I'm moving 10 gigs around, sure, that might make sense. But even on relatively small file operations, I'd get this dialog. Now, moving things around in Windows is as fast or faster than it was on Windows XP. It's very snappy. One other plus, the zip handling is much faster.
- Using it with a laptop is nicer. One thing we noticed immediately over plain Vista was coming out of sleep was much much faster. This is particularly true if you have USB devices hooked up. It was very noticeable.
- General performance is better. Is it better than Windows XP? Most people will say no but it depends on what matters to you. Windows XP benchmarks better but in terms of actual responsiveness, Windows Vista is feeling faster on the same hardware for me. That is, loading up programs I commonly use, switching between programs, etc. I am inclined to agree with those who say that Vista will perform more slowly in benchmarking but Vista is a lot more intelligent in its memory management in SP1 than XP and vastly better than Vista plain.
There are numerous other updates to Windows Vista SP1 but in terms of what we think most users will notice, these are the big ones.
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Bebi Bulma
Reply #42 Tuesday, March 18, 2008 5:11 PM
Notice the horns underneath it.
Reply #42 Tuesday, March 18, 2008 5:11 PM
btw, nice avatar! the halo doesn't exactly fit you, tho.
Notice the horns underneath it.
whatwhere
Reply #43 Tuesday, March 18, 2008 5:52 PM
Reply #43 Tuesday, March 18, 2008 5:52 PM
VISTA SP1 RELEASED
VISTA SP1 FOR X86 (32 BIT) SYSTEMS
VISTA SP1 FOR X64 (64 BIT) SYSTEMS
i just got done installing it on my rig....so far so good
VISTA SP1 FOR X86 (32 BIT) SYSTEMS
VISTA SP1 FOR X64 (64 BIT) SYSTEMS
i just got done installing it on my rig....so far so good
Bebi Bulma
Reply #44 Tuesday, March 18, 2008 7:42 PM
Reply #44 Tuesday, March 18, 2008 7:42 PM
From http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=948343#method5
Conexant HD Audio
Lucky me...MS says it won't work on my laptop since I use Conexant audio...and there is no such 4.32 driver in existence. Thanks Microsoft.
Conexant HD Audio
| • | For x86-based computers: Chdart.sys - version 4.32.0.0 or earlier |
Lucky me...MS says it won't work on my laptop since I use Conexant audio...and there is no such 4.32 driver in existence. Thanks Microsoft.
gef
Reply #45 Sunday, March 23, 2008 9:06 AM
Reply #45 Sunday, March 23, 2008 9:06 AM
Just updated to SP1 on my laptop and now DexktopX will not work.
Fault Module Name : DxAxHost.dll
Fault Module version : 2.0.0.0
Fault Module Timestamp : 44a44587
Exception code : c0000005
Exception offset : 000224c5
If this helps anyone (
MadDeez
Reply #46 Sunday, March 23, 2008 9:36 AM
Reply #46 Sunday, March 23, 2008 9:36 AM
gef, there's a thread by vad around here someplace that shows how to get dx to work on vista sp1. i can't find it at the moment, tho. you'll need tweakvista, too. i used vad's method and dx works for me but snowman tried it with no success.
ESAF
Reply #47 Sunday, March 23, 2008 10:30 AM
Iam tempted to D/L SP1 now instead of waiting for windows update to do it for me, when I went to the site it advises not to d/l on single user p/c but wait for windows update to do it -- something to do with file size. My question is what do you guys think, should I wait or take the plunge?
Reply #47 Sunday, March 23, 2008 10:30 AM
VISTA SP1 RELEASEDVISTA SP1 FOR X86 (32 BIT) SYSTEMSVISTA SP1 FOR X64 (64 BIT) SYSTEMSi just got done installing it on my rig....so far so good
Iam tempted to D/L SP1 now instead of waiting for windows update to do it for me, when I went to the site it advises not to d/l on single user p/c but wait for windows update to do it -- something to do with file size. My question is what do you guys think, should I wait or take the plunge?
aufisch
Reply #48 Monday, March 24, 2008 2:36 AM
You can already update to SP1 through Windows-update. Just open the Update-panel and update all the "important" parts. Then reboot and run Windows-Update again. It should now show SP1, if not click on "check for updates".
Reply #48 Monday, March 24, 2008 2:36 AM
My question is what do you guys think, should I wait or take the plunge?
You can already update to SP1 through Windows-update. Just open the Update-panel and update all the "important" parts. Then reboot and run Windows-Update again. It should now show SP1, if not click on "check for updates".
ESAF
Reply #49 Monday, March 24, 2008 1:45 PM
Done exactly like you said and nothing showed up -- Iam running Vista Ultimate if thats got anything to do with it
Reply #49 Monday, March 24, 2008 1:45 PM
My question is what do you guys think, should I wait or take the plunge?You can already update to SP1 through Windows-update. Just open the Update-panel and update all the "important" parts. Then reboot and run Windows-Update again. It should now show SP1, if not click on "check for updates".
Done exactly like you said and nothing showed up -- Iam running Vista Ultimate if thats got anything to do with it
ESAF
Reply #51 Monday, March 24, 2008 5:14 PM
Reply #51 Monday, March 24, 2008 5:14 PM
Hi just to give you all an update -- I took the plunge and went ahead and d/l Vista SP1 and saved it to my d/l folder then with my heart in my mouth started the install it took roughly an hour for the d/l and another hour for the install with the m/c booting up about three times in the process, with me sat biting my nails wondering if this is going to mess my m/c up just because iam too impatient to wait for windows update to do it. Very happy to report all is well and my rig seems to have a slight spring in it's step, all apps are running as normal. The only thing it asked me to do was to rate my m/c in the Index Rating and it came back with a score of 3.8 which is same as before so no change there so big thanks to all in helping me take the plunge.
ESAF
Reply #52 Monday, March 24, 2008 5:40 PM
Reply #52 Monday, March 24, 2008 5:40 PM
Ok - Just to give you all an update on weather I should install Vista SP1 or wait for Windows Update to do it for me. Well I took the the plunge with some apprehension and d/l to my d/l folder. The d/l took roughly 1hr, at the end I clicked to install the file and then ran like the clappers and hid behind the chair wondering if my impatience is going to break my m/c, I could hear my hard drive going absolutely bonkers ten to the dozen, with me mouthing over and over 'Please don't break Please don't break'. The install took roughly an hour with the rig booting up about three times and iam very happy to say all is well, iam no tekkie but the old rig seems to have developed a slight spring in it's step. All apps are running normal as before (still in the process of testing them all) the only thing it asked to do was a rating test which I did and it came back with a score of 3.8, same as before the install. So Bigup and thanks to all for the advice and help.
ESAF
Reply #53 Monday, March 24, 2008 5:44 PM
Reply #53 Monday, March 24, 2008 5:44 PM
Oooops double post -- I swear the forum was playing up with the first post because it didnt appear so wrote it again -- now the two have showed up !!!!
winstar4
Reply #57 Monday, March 24, 2008 8:38 PM
Reply #57 Monday, March 24, 2008 8:38 PM
My dx and dx widgets, and independent gadgets all ran nicely on vista BEFORE I installed sp1. After I installed it, NONE of them worked. So I uninstalled sp1, now all is well again with my dx, dx widgets, and independent gadgets. It appears that for now vista sp1 IS the culprit. I hope this get fixed soon.
cavalierex
Reply #58 Monday, April 7, 2008 12:02 AM
Reply #58 Monday, April 7, 2008 12:02 AM
Agreed. SP1 helped with several issues. The system is much more responsive now.
MouseGoddess
Reply #59 Thursday, April 17, 2008 7:45 PM
Reply #59 Thursday, April 17, 2008 7:45 PM
After years and years (well, since about 2000 anyway) of buying stand alone versions of Windowblinds, IconPackager, CursorXP Plus, and I don't remember what all, including every update, I NEVER had ANY trouble with anything working. EVER. I was happy to buy each new update. Now, thanks to Vista, I can hardly get ANYTHING in Object Desktop to work!! I'm going insane from working on these programs, installing, un-installing, and writing to Stardock for help!
I give up.
Can you please instruct me on the best way to un-install OD and go back to my stand-alone's? Maybe they'll work better with Vista!?
And then, should I download SP1? (
I give up.
Can you please instruct me on the best way to un-install OD and go back to my stand-alone's? Maybe they'll work better with Vista!?
And then, should I download SP1? (
Kinger
Reply #60 Tuesday, April 22, 2008 3:34 AM
Reply #60 Tuesday, April 22, 2008 3:34 AM
I Read a article in PC World Magazine where they ran thier Workbench tests on Vista , Vista SP1 & Xp.
SP1 actually slowed down everything, except extracting Ziped files, substantualy. And both were much slower than XP. I have Vista on my HP Laptop but I think I'll waite before installing SP1 A Bit LongerWWW Link
SP1 actually slowed down everything, except extracting Ziped files, substantualy. And both were much slower than XP. I have Vista on my HP Laptop but I think I'll waite before installing SP1 A Bit LongerWWW Link
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Reply #41 Tuesday, March 18, 2008 4:53 PM
carguy, dx doesn't work on sp1 yet.
bebi, i agree with you on that. when i got the new laptop, i immediately removed NIS2008 and installed nod32. if i didn't already own nod32, i may have used NIS2008, tho. i used to use norton apps exclusively but after trying nod32 when i switched to vista, i have a difficult time going away from nod32. it's a great av app, for sure. btw, nice avatar! the halo doesn't exactly fit you, tho.